NFL rookie QB starter rankings: A surprise No. 1 quietly emerges

Shough ran for two TDs against Tampa Bay en route to an upset road win in Week 14 before throwing for 272 yards — including a tying TD and a drive that set up the winning field goal — in a win over Carolina. 

2. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants | Round 1 (25th overall)

Season stats: 165-for-264, 1,802 yards, 13 TD passes | Starter record: 2-7

What ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.  said before the draft: "Jaxson Dart has a really good skillset and he has the attitude, the approach I like."

At the very least, Dart has made the maligned Giants (2-12) slightly enjoyable to watch. The Ole Miss product has played efficiently, throwing only four interceptions, but the wins have been hard to come by. New York's upset victory over the Chargers on Sept. 28 in Dart's first NFL start was memorable for Giants fans. 

If the Giants can surround Dart with weapons and rookie RB Cam Skattebo returns to health from season-ending injuries, New York's offense could be a force. 

3. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans | Round 1: (first overall)

Season stats: 278-for-469, 2,638 yards, 11 TD passes | Starter record: 2-12

What ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said before the draft: "The arm strength, the angles, all the different arm angles he throws from, the mobility he has  — he had 17 rushing touchdowns over the last three years — all that leads to (him being the No. 1 pick)." 

It’s hard to accurately gauge Ward, who was thrown into a less-than-ideal situation with a team widely expected to be among the league’s worst entering the season. Still, the Miami product has played respectably. Like Dart and the Giants, Ward and the Titans (2–12) have only two wins, and with little help offensively — the team’s leading receiver is tight end Chig Okonkwo with 459 yards — we haven’t seen what he can truly do.

However, he has caught fire recently. Ward has thrown only one interception (and six TD passes) over the past six games. 

4. Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns | Round: 5 (144th overall)

Season stats: 72-for-138, 946 yards, five TD passes | Starter record: 1-3

What ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said: "We could go to 102 picks and end today without Shedeur Sanders being picked. That’s nonsensical. This kid should’ve been a first-round draft choice.” 

Sanders was arguably the biggest story of April's NFL Draft, when he fell to the 144th pick despite being expected to be picked in the first or second round. Sanders, who took over the starting job after fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel was benched, has five interceptions in 4.5 games and a lowly 52.2 completion percentage. 

But Sanders has been far from awful. Against Ward and the Titans, he showed flashes of brilliance, throwing for three TDs and 364 yards. But in Week 15, his inconsistency flared up when he threw for only 177 yards and turned the ball over three times in a blowout loss to the Bears.

Rookie QBs Gabriel (six games) of the Cleveland Browns and Max Brosmer (one) of the Minnesota Vikings have also started games this season.